Phoenix Man Given Jail Term for Attempted Escape

(Phoenix, Ariz. – Oct. 22, 2007) Attorney General Terry Goddard today announced that Darwin K. Waits, 31, of Phoenix, has been sentenced to 60 days in jail after he pleaded guilty to one count of attempted escape, a felony charge. Maricopa County Superior Court Commissioner Edward W. Bassett also sentenced Waits to two years probation.

In October 2006, Waits was found in contempt of court for failing to pay $5,000 in child support and was sent to the Maricopa County Jail. Waits was on work furlough and did not report back to the jail after work.

Waits is still responsible for paying the $5,000 to purge the contempt citation. In addition, he owes approximately $30,000 more in back child support. Waits’ conviction was a result of ongoing efforts by the Attorney General’s Office and the Special Investigations Office at the Department of Economic Security to investigate and prosecute individuals who refuse to honor their child support obligations.